The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unexpectedly canceled its March meeting of vaccine advisors, originally scheduled for March 13. This annual meeting, which plays a critical role in selecting flu strains for the upcoming fall and winter vaccines, has been canceled without any explanation. The cancellation occurs during an exceptionally harsh flu season in the United States, which has resulted in approximately 910,000 hospitalizations since October, putting it on track to be the most severe in at least a decade.
The sudden cancellation of this crucial meeting has raised questions, especially as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, now leads the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy has a long-standing history of questioning vaccines and has made initial moves that could potentially impact vaccination policies and uptake across the nation. Among his promises, he intends to review the current childhood vaccine schedule and investigate whether vaccines, pesticides, and antidepressants are contributing to a rise in chronic illnesses in the U.S.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not commented on the cancellation of the FDA meeting or provided any insight into the potential reasoning behind it. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is considering withdrawing funding for Moderna's bird flu vaccine. This decision comes as the country grapples with a record-breaking bird flu outbreak that has severely impacted cattle herds and poultry flocks, contributing to soaring egg prices.